MK VII Satchel, Customized Magnoli VS. Original with pics
Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:16 pm
Check this out. Magnoli sent me one of his new replica Mk VII Indy bags. The new bag, unlike my last one, is almost the correct size. (It's still small though.) The color was the same yellow really light khaki color, so I did something about it.
First I dyed the replica bag with about half a packet of Dylon Olive Green. My guesstimate was just about perfect. The new color is really as close as it gets.
Next I stripped the finish off of all the brass parts and blackened them with Brass Black. After that the brass hardware was buffed out with steel wool.
I also very carefully fully sanded the metal "O" rings that the strap attaches to. Now the rings are the correct "Raiders" silver.
I got bored yesterday and decided to change out the snaps as well. I took some military issue blackened brass DOT brand snaps and created a special tool from scratch to produce the ring around the rim of the snap. After re-setting the new snaps they were buffed out with steel wool.
The metal disc on the side of the replica bag was originally a clear coated black color that just didn't look authentic. The rivet holding it on was not accurate either and pulled right off the bag.
After knocking the rivet out, I stripped the replica disc down to bare metal and gave it my special paint and finish. Trying to replicate 60+ years of metal oxide was an interesting challenge.
Satisfied with the look of my new disc, I then re-attached to the satchel just like the original. I backed the disc with a large stainless steel fender washer so it cannot pull out and riveted it back on with a solid copper rivet (exactly like an original) which I had to hollow out by hand and peen over to hold the disc on.
Let me know what you think.
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p131 ... Bag098.jpg[/img]
First I dyed the replica bag with about half a packet of Dylon Olive Green. My guesstimate was just about perfect. The new color is really as close as it gets.
Next I stripped the finish off of all the brass parts and blackened them with Brass Black. After that the brass hardware was buffed out with steel wool.
I also very carefully fully sanded the metal "O" rings that the strap attaches to. Now the rings are the correct "Raiders" silver.
I got bored yesterday and decided to change out the snaps as well. I took some military issue blackened brass DOT brand snaps and created a special tool from scratch to produce the ring around the rim of the snap. After re-setting the new snaps they were buffed out with steel wool.
The metal disc on the side of the replica bag was originally a clear coated black color that just didn't look authentic. The rivet holding it on was not accurate either and pulled right off the bag.
After knocking the rivet out, I stripped the replica disc down to bare metal and gave it my special paint and finish. Trying to replicate 60+ years of metal oxide was an interesting challenge.
Satisfied with the look of my new disc, I then re-attached to the satchel just like the original. I backed the disc with a large stainless steel fender washer so it cannot pull out and riveted it back on with a solid copper rivet (exactly like an original) which I had to hollow out by hand and peen over to hold the disc on.
Let me know what you think.
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p131 ... Bag098.jpg[/img]